She’s been cagey but consistent. Snowe doesn’t like the bill's penalties for people who don’t buy insurance. But she likes the overall price tag, well under $1 trillion. She’s even hinted at casting one vote in committee and a different vote on the floor.

“They’ve got me voting yes, preserving my leverage; voting no, preserving my leverage,” Snowe said recently of all the commentary about her decision. “It’s all about what I’m comfortable doing at the end of the day.”

Here’s a look inside the vote and Snowe’s thinking:

If Snowe votes yes: This is clearly the outcome Baucus (D-Mont.) is rooting for, as he made a lot of concessions to bring her on board, including cutting the no-insurance penalties by more than half. The bipartisan nod Snowe brings to the bill strengthens Baucus’s hand as he, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee’s Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) merge the Health and Finance committee bills.

Snowe’s buy-in makes it easier for Baucus and Reid to sell reform to moderate Democrats — think Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Evan Bayh of Indiana — who are arguably more conservative than their colleague from Maine.

And it positions Snowe to grab a bigger seat at the decision-making table as Reid crafts a bill to send to the Senate floor. Not to mention, the headlines all laud Baucus for landing a Republican vote and give Democrats the “big mo.”

Democrats could overplay their hands: Look for Republicans to push back hard against any narrative that suggests a solitary GOP vote suddenly makes the bill bipartisan.

If Snowe votes no: This will be written as a major setback for Democrats, plain and simple.

For Baucus, this one stings because he would have put so much time and effort into wooing Snowe, all for naught. He doesn’t get the hero’s welcome, or a carrot to entice moderate Democrats.

And the failure to win Snowe’s support in Finance will raise questions about whether Baucus and Reid can win her support on the floor. Remember, Nelson has said he didn’t want to vote for an all-Democratic bill, and other moderates could be jittery without the bipartisan cover Snowe provides.

As for Snowe, she may find herself with a less influential voice moving forward as Democrats begin to question whether she’s really serious about passing reform. The headlines may be the biggest problem for Dems as they’ll slow the mo and cast doubts on what should be a very big day for Baucus and reform.

Senator Snowe voted for the Stimulus Bill and today, as many independent economists say, the economy has recovered at a faster pace because of it and it has provided needed assistance for MainStreet at a time when its really hurting. She was right the leaders in her party were wrong. She has always been a leader not a follower... maybe her party leadership can still learn from her leadership skills, doubt it, Boehner, McDonnell and Kyl are more concerned with playing POLITICS than SAVING LIVES which is what healthcare reform will do by insuring millions of Americans 94% to be exact and NOT ADDING A DIME to the deficit as recenlty scored by the CBO and saving tens of billions of dollars in the out years.

II have absolutely no idea but I wrote Senator Snow yesterday to implore her to vote NO. I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that they are even contemplating passing this unproven healthcare plan, based mostly on fantasy savings, while we are in the midst of an economic crisis, while dismissing any and all suggestions to take practical incremental steps to achieve their goal. This administration and the democrat congress had an agenda and they will not allow the fact that the U.S. is nearly bankrupt to get in their way.

II have absolutely no idea but I wrote Senator Snow yesterday to implore her to vote NO. I cannot wrap my mind around the fact that they are even contemplating passing this unproven healthcare plan, based mostly on fantasy savings, while we are in the midst of an economic crisis, while dismissing any and all suggestions to take practical incremental steps to achieve their goal. This administration and the democrat congress had an agenda and they will not allow the fact that the U.S. is nearly bankrupt to get in their way.

Will they get these Dems are proposing Healthcare like Lance Armstrong was lucky to get away from? Will they get that these Dems have been going with "we need to kill you(the economy)" "we need to kill (the economy)" "we need to kill the economy to then 'save' the economy"? (note: just read Sally Jenkins book on Lance)

Bush and Republicans still had no "motive" to tank the economy is there any chance left people will come to accept such?

Olympia Snow is not a Republican and if she votes for this bill she should immediately change her party affliation. She is Arlen Specter in a dress. I do not know the voters in maine, but I know if she continued to pretend she was a Republican in my state she would have been voted out already

Of course Olympia Snowe is going to vote yes...she does the exact same thing on every key issue that comes up. Olympia Snowe is a Democrat, plain & simple. Snowe and Collins should both go the way of Spector and change their affiliation to the party they obviously believe in.

It's no big deal, ladies...........you do nothing but injure the Republican Party and hopefully you will change your affiliations and take ownership of the bills you approve. The healthcare "reform" bill is totally owned and operated by the Democrats, be proud of your piece of work, ladies, show your pride.

The citizens of Maine obviously want Democrat senators or they would vote these two pieces of work out of office. They are like moles and the Republican party should boot them both out if they do not go on their own. They make me sick. Snowe & Collins are nothing but wolves in sheeps clothing.

Olympia Snow is not a Republican and if she votes for this bill she should immediately change her party affliation. She is Arlen Specter in a dress. I do not know the voters in maine, but I know if she continued to pretend she was a Republican in my state she would have been voted out already

SHE MUST VOTE IN LOCK STEP WITH HER FUROR BONER. IF SHE DOES NOT SHE WILL BE BANISHED TO THE MAJORITY WHERE SHE WILL THRIVE AND BECOME PART OF THE SOLUTION INSTEAD OF THE PROBLEM. EVOLUTION IS OVERTAKING THE GOP AND THEY KNOW IT.

Of course Olympia Snowe is going to vote yes...she does the exact same thing on every key issue that comes up. Olympia Snowe is a Democrat, plain & simple. Snowe and Collins should both go the way of Spector and change their affiliation to the party they obviously believe in.

Actually, I disagree.

What she is adept at is the horse trading (compromise) that has always categorized Washington. And one could make the claim that she has done more to shape the healthcare debate for what Republicans want then all wingnuts combined. It is both the conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans that have so far gotten Obama to jettison, unfortunately, single payer and a public option. She's carrying the load for Republicans....and all they can do is slam her.